Abuse Survivors Blog

Megan Hickey

Megan Hickey
Megan is our trainee solicitor and holds a first-class honours degree in Law from the University of Kent. Megan assists on all our cases and is incredibly enthusiastic about advocating for our clients. She is a member of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers and the Association of Child Abuse Lawyers. She is also currently studying for her Solicitors Qualification Exam with BPP University and is due to qualify in mid-2025.

Recent Posts

Towards a Greener Future: Emmott Snell's Sustainable Office Initiatives

Written by Megan Hickey on 04 Feb 2025

As we embrace 2025, Emmott Snell Solicitors is excited to reaffirm our commitment to sustainability. Our New Year's resolution is to lead by example in reducing our environmental impact and championing a greener future. We believe that even small changes can be effective in minimising our carbon footprint, and we are dedicated to integrating eco-friendly practices into every aspect of our operations.

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Valuing compensation in sexual abuse claims

Written by Megan Hickey on 13 Dec 2024

While survivors of sexual abuse are rarely motivated by how much compensation they will be entitled to, it is only fair to try and advise our clients at an early stage as to what is achievable. It is acknowledged that no amount of money can ever truly represent the extent of harm (and associated consequences) caused by childhood sexual abuse.

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Redress Schemes for sexual abuse: the value of legal representation

Written by Megan Hickey on 29 Aug 2024

In recent years, several compensation redress schemes have been established to compensate individuals who have suffered sexual abuse in specific institutions. Notable examples include St James and St Vedast Redress Scheme, The Manchester City Football Club Redress Scheme, Scotland’s
Redress Scheme, The Historic Abuse Redress Scheme (States of Jersey) and the Jesus Fellowship Redress Scheme.

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Successful settlement for a claim brought out of time and without conviction

Written by Megan Hickey on 31 Jul 2024

One of Emmott Snell’s clients (hereafter referred to in this article as “Ms T”, to protect her identity) has successfully obtained an out-of-court settlement after bringing a civil compensation claim against a parish in the Diocese of Chichester for alleged sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of a priest whilst she was a choir member at her local church.

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Beyond the cheers: Addressing coach abuse in cheerleading

Written by Megan Hickey on 27 Mar 2024

Our paralegal, Megan Hickey, has competed in national competitions as a cheerleader and is familiar with trust placed in coaches. Cheerleading is a contact sport that requires an immense amount of physical touch in order to carry parts of the routines, especially the stunting sequences. Responsible coaches are essential in this dangerous sport, not just due to its physical nature but also due to the trust involved.

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The evolution of online grooming and avenues for redress

Written by Megan Hickey on 25 Jan 2024

The grooming process is often a pre-cursor to sexual abuse. It can take place in person or online and can last days, weeks or months. In an era where children have increasing access and exposure to digital platforms the dark reality of online grooming has emerged as a pressing concern.

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An ‘out of time’ CICA application success story

Written by Megan Hickey on 23 Nov 2023

Jeremy Indika contacted Emmott Snell seeking justice for the sexual abuse he had suffered at the hands of his childminder whilst he was a child. We advised him on an application to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority.

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Sexual consent: Should the legal age of consent be raised from 16 to 18 years old?

Written by Megan Hickey on 16 Oct 2023

This question has been circulating in the media since the comedian Russell Brand was accused of sexual assaults against multiple women, including someone who alleges she was sexually assaulted by Brand when she was 16. 

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The Victims’ Code: What support will victims receive when reporting to the police?

Written by Megan Hickey on 18 Aug 2023

Reporting your abuse to the police is arguably one of the most daunting steps in the process of achieving justice. This was recognised by The Secretary of State for Justice in 2004 when the Victim’s Code of Practice was issued under the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 and has been reviewed and improved over the last 19 years.

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Dog attacks: can I claim compensation for my injuries?

Written by Megan Hickey on 23 Jun 2023

There can be no doubt that being bitten by a dog is a traumatic and frightening experience that can cause debilitating psychological and physical injuries. Physical injuries (caused by a dog bite) are generally visible and recognisable and range from minor wounds to nerve/muscle damage and residual scarring.

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